Yellow Brick finally gets his shot at Group 1 glory in the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), a year after heartbreak kept him out of the race.

Trained by father-daughter duo Tony and Maddysen Sears, the gelding was second emergency in 2024 and failed to make the field. Now he returns with a point to prove as a $34 chance in the field topped by $3.10 favourite War Machine.

“Last year we were devastated when he was second emergency and didn’t get a start,” Maddysen Sears said.

“So, this has been his sole goal this time in.”

Following his strong winter showing last season, Yellow Brick placed in both the Five Diamonds Prelude and the Five Diamonds at Rosehill during a productive spring campaign.

After a January run at the Magic Millions Carnival, he was spelled and prepared specifically for a Stradbroke run.

He returned to finish 11th behind War Machine in the BRC Sprint (1350m) and has since been kept fresh with a quiet 1000m trial at Doomben on June 3, handled by jockey Andrew Mallyon.

“The horse is flying,” Sears reported.

“He had a nice little tick over trial last week just so he would technically be third-up into the Stradbroke.

“And Andrew galloped him on Tuesday morning and he said that was the best he’s ever felt.

“Rather than race him, we’ve done a lot more work with him at home and given him the trials.

“He looks amazing and he’s ready for Saturday.”